Daniil Medvedev likens his game to Novak Djokovic and reveals reason he admires the Serb

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic

Daniil Medvedev picked a younger version of Novak Djokovic over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the player from the Big Three his game is most similar to stylistically.

The 2021 US Open champion also revealed he never had an idol or a favourite tennis player, while declaring he grew up playing the tennis of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray.

Medvedev is in action at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters, where he overcame Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-4 in his opening match on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Russian was furious with umpire Mohamed Lahyani over a line call during a game where he was broken early in the second set.

The world No 4 was playing his first clay-court match of the 2024 season and is looking to win his first title since the Italian Open in May last year.

Medvedev will take on countryman Karen Khachanov, the world No 17, in the last 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on Thursday.

In an interview with Sport-Express Russia, Medvedev explained why he never had a tennis idol, while citing fellow Russian Marat Safin as a player he enjoyed watching

“I never had an idol or a favourite tennis player, because I always wanted to go and win my own way. If the idol is someone else, then it’s harder to do it yourself,” he said.

“I respect Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray for a lot of things. I grew up playing their tennis. When Marat Safin played, I was younger, I didn’t understand the game as well, but I watched how he won in Australia and Spain.

“There’s school the next day and everything, but I couldn’t tear myself away. There were many tennis players whom I loved for various reasons. But I can’t single out just one.”

The five-time Grand Slam runner-up then named Djokovic when asked which of the Big Three his game is the closest too.

“Stylistically, I’ll say that in some ways I’m more like Novak when he was younger,” Medvedev assessed.

“I think that his tennis is different now than at the beginning of his career. Rafa is left-handed and Roger plays tennis, which is far from mine. Therefore – Djokovic.”

Medvedev also recalled how Djokovic invited him to train in the early stages of his career and expressed his admiration for how the Serbian has always treated him with the same respect.

“I remember this moment very much. I also trained with Novak. The plane arrived when I was already in the top 100,” the former world No 1 said.

“And when I was only in the top 400, Djokovic called me to work. He always treated me with the same respect – no matter how old I was or what place I was in the ranking. He treats many people this way, and it deserves respect.”